Clothesline stretching device



Feb.'24, 1948. R, c, LEWIS 2,436,477

CLOTHESLINE S TRETCHING DEVICE Filed March 1, 1946 extraneous complicated levers.

- a bottom member I4 Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESLINE STRETCHING DEVICE Richard 0. Lewis, Chicago, Ill. Application March 1, 1946, SerialNo. 651,126 3 Claims. (Ci. 211-11915) My invention relates to a device adapted to take the slack out of a clothesline and hold it in taut condition.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a clothesline stretcher which will permit a line to extend between two points without the need of intermediate supports. My device is also adapted to'stretch several lines. It operates from the extreme end of m stretcher and needs no My device is economical to manufacture, lasting in use, simple and efiicient in operation, and has such other objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have disclosed herein preferred embodiments of my invention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is face view of one embodiment of my device; Fig. 2 is a perspective view and Fig. 3 a detailed sectional view; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my device; and Fig. 5 is a reduced elevational view of my device in use.

An embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a pair of spaced side rails I I] and I I, a fixed top member I2 extending between and slightly spaced from said rails I II and I I, and

extending between and attached to said rails I0 and II. Said side rails I0 and II are pivotally attached to top member I2 by suitable pins I3. The bottom edge of my bottom member I4 has a plurality of spaced slots I5. A substantially centrallylocated outwardly extending detent IB is anchored in the bottom edge of said bottom member I4.

The above described stretcher I1 is attached by suitable means such as nails I8 to a post, tree, wall, porch, or other suitable support I9. Also attached to support I9 by suitable means such as nails 20 is retaining member 2|, which has a right angled forwardly extending portion 22. Retaining member 2| being of metal or the like, forward portion 22 is resilient. Cut out in forward portion 2| is a tear drop shaped opening 23.

In use, a clothes line 24 is attached at one end to a suitable support 25 and extends to and through loop or clip 26 which is attached to a suitable support I9. The clothes line 24 is provided with knot 28 and placed in one of slots I5, the knot 28 preventing undesired removal. Side rails I0 and II and bottom member downwardly, taking up slack in the clothesline 25 I4 are pivoted 2 and making it taut. When detent I6 strikes retaining member 2I, forward portion 22 yields under pressure so that detent I6 enters opening 23 at the higher, larger part of the opening. Pressure is then released and pressure of the clothes line forces detent I6 into the lower smaller portion of opening 23 to hold the detent and the stretcher.

A slightly different embodiment of my stretcher comprises a single length of metal forming one side rail 30, bent at the bottom of the rail and extending transversely with spaced indentations forming slots 3|, and then bent upwardly to form the opposite side rail 32. A support 33 extends between and is attached to rails 30 and 32 at their lower portions. An upper member 34 has ears 35 to which are pivotally attached the rails 36 and 32 at their upper portions, by means. of a pin or rivets 36 Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A clothesline stretching device comprising a stretcher having a fixed upper member adapted to be attached to a support, a pair of spaced side rails pivotally attached to said upper member, a bottom member attached to the lower portions of said side rails, said bottom member having at its bottom portion a plurality of clothesline receiving slots, and a detent attached to said bottom member, and a holding member attached to a support and having a resilient tongue with a tear shaped opening therein, said tongue positioned and adapted to be contacted by said detent and to yield to removably receive said detent within said tear shaped opening, and hold said stretcher.

2. A clothesline stretching device comprising an upper fixed portion adapted to be attached to a support, a pivot portion pivotally attached to said upper fixed portion, a lower portion attached to said pivot portion and having means to receive a plurality of clotheslines at its lower end, a detent attached to said lower portion and a retaining member attached to a support, and having a resilient tongue with a tear shaped opening therein, said tongu positioned and adapted to be contacted by said detent and to yield to removably receive said detent within said tear shaped opening, and hold said stretcher.

3. A clothesline stretching device comprising an upper fixed portion adapted to be attached to a support, a pivot portion pivotally attached to said upper fixed portion, a lower portion attached to said pivot portion and having; means at its lower end to hold a clothesline, a detent attached to the lower end of said lower portion and a resilient retaining member attached to a support, and having means to removably receive said detent file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS and hold said stretcher. Number Name Date RICHARD WI 209,814 Keefer Nov. 12, 1878 5 800,744 Kimbro et a1. Oct. 3, 1905 REFERENCES CITED 1,230,146 Frieze June 19, 191'! 1,237,599 Anderson Aug. 21, 1917 The following references are of record 1n the 1,566,702 Si om Dec. 22, 1925 

